Tonight was a great night to share the good news of Jesus Christ. God had been pulling on my heart to get out of my comfort zone and start street preaching. All He asked of me was to be willing and He would do the rest. As long as I put myself out there He can use me to do great things. We can’t even comprehend the things God has in store for our lives. He has great ambitions for each of us but we don’t even realize it. We haven’t gone so far as to let Him do a work in our lives. We walk by our own sight, most times, instead of His. This was on my heart as I preached in downtown Boise. My teaching came from Matthew 4 and 5. 1Jesus called people off the streets to follow Him just as I was led to call people, as they walked by, to follow Jesus. How amazing was it to read about people that were convicted and followed their heart. If there was any that heard the words of God and were convicted I just asked that they believe in Jesus and let Him change their lives. We are missing this eagerness to follow after Jesus in the days we live in and it saddens me and God. If we desire to be saved, we need not be complacent but willing to do the will of God. We can either walk in the flesh or in the spirit. Both have eternal consequences but only one yields fruit in heaven. To be born again is to walk in the Spirit. If you are living in sin then you are being controlled by the flesh. If you are living apart from the world then you are being led by the Spirit. This cannot happen by our own efforts but by our willingness to read the Bible daily and give Him time. If He comes first in our lives than we are changed and it is by His hand.
Preaching God’s word has helped grow my faith. Talking with others in the faith helped my love for God mature even more so. After finishing up my preaching and teaching from Matthew 5:1-14, I desired to not just talk but converse with anyone willing to lend an ear to God’s word. As people walked by I asked them if they believed in Jesus. I asked them if they hungered for God’s word and was reading the Bible. Jesus knows His followers for they do His will. As I was encouraging people to live a life for God this gentleman stopped me. He felt encouraged by the Word of God and was grateful for what I was doing. I told Him that it is the Spirit that is convicting people and nothing I could ever do. We discussed the importance of making Jesus a priority in our life. To still love the life we’ve been given and have hobbies but to make God first above all. To give the Lord the time He deserves. His desire is for us to be saved and it doesn’t have to be hard. It is the most joyful time to have the presence of God in our lives. As Jesus said, 2“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,” my time that I seek Him are the most joyful times in my life. I am more able to walk on His straight and narrow path over what the world offers. On the other hand, when I feel like I can do it all on my own and neglect the Bible is when I fall in the temptation to sin. This is why it is so important to read the Bible and pray often. God can be the shield in our lives to ward off the evil one but we must take action and do our part. If we do what God asks, like obey His commandments, then we can better be used by Him. I am grateful for this opportunity to share the gospel with so many people. There were so many seeds planted for God’s kingdom.
Let us pray:
Lord, be with these people I talked to tonight. Bless this young lady, I met, who desires to live for You. Lead her on the path of righteousness. I pray for Paul, who I met while preaching. He heard the teaching tonight and was convicted to better follow You. I know this can happen for Him. Encourage Him to read the Bible and pray often. Help Him make You a priority over all things. I also pray for myself and everyone reading this. Convict our hearts. Help us be more willing to follow You. When You call, I will earnestly jump out of my seat to come to You. Just ask and I will be there. I want to be a servant for Your kingdom, Lord. You come first above all things. I honor You with my lips and my offerings to You. Your laws are written on my heart. I keep them sacred for they are Your teachings for my life. You are my light that I hope to bear in my life. Shine bright through me that all the world may see Your goodness. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Matthew 4:17-25 (KJV)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
2Matthew 5:1-14 (KJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
